Borders sets scenes for film festival

The world-famous Edinburgh Film Festival is ready to celebrate its 70th anniversary this year- and films with Borders connections will open and close the proceedings.

The Opening Night Gala on June 15 will be the world premiere of Jason Connery’s golf drama Tommy’s Honour, starring former Earlston High School pupil Jack Lowden (who recently featured in the BBC’ s adaptation of War and Peace) alongside Peter Mullan as the pioneering father and son duo Old Tom and Young Tommy Morris.

Filming for scenes took place in Peebles last year, with several shops in the Northgate and Bridgegate forming part of the set.

Lowden is making the move into feature films after impressing in TV and on stage, in producitions of Black Watch and Ibsen’s Ghosts, for which he won an Olivier Award.

The prestigious festival will close with more scenes shot in the Borders, this time from the coast.

The final film is Whisky Galore! a remake of the black and white classic, which shot some harbour scenes in the village of St Abbs.